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OREM, Utah — The man accused of killing  expressed opposition to the conservative activist's viewpoints and indicated that he was responsible for the shooting, authorities said Friday as they announced an arrest.

Tyler Robinson, 22, became “more political� in the run-up to the shooting and mentioned during a dinner with family that Kirk would visit Utah, Gov. Spencer Cox told a news conference. He turned himself in late Thursday. 

The governor cited as evidence engravings on unfired bullet casings found in the rifle that authorities believe was used in the attack, as well as chat app messages attributed to the suspect that a roommate shared with law enforcement.

The arrest was first heralded by President Donald Trump on the Fox News show “Fox & Friends.�

Robinson is believed to have acted alone, and the investigation is ongoing, Cox said. He was arrested on suspicion of capital murder, weapons and obstruction offenses.

Robinson’s arrest capped a frenetic day-and-a-half search that just hours earlier seemed stuck when authorities pleaded for tips and leads from the public.

The assassination captivated the public not only because of Kirk's outsized influence in conservative political circles and his close connections with Trump but also because of the pressing questions it raised about the escalating toll of political violence that spanned the ideological spectrum.

"This is our moment: Do we escalate or do we find an off ramp?� Cox asked, making an impassioned plea for young people to bridge differences through common ground rather than violence. “It’s a choice.�

New details on evidence

Authorities have yet to reveal a motive, but they described evidence they recovered they said shed potential light on the slaying.

That includes engravings on bullet casings recovered from the high-powered rifle believed used in the attack, including one that said, “Hey, fascist! Catch!� Cox said.

In addition, a roommate shared with authorities messages from the chatting app Discord that involved a contact named Tyler and discussed a rifle wrapped in a towel, engraved bullets and a scope, the governor said.

The clothes the suspect wore when confronted by law enforcement late Thursday were consistent with what he wore when he arrived on campus a day earlier, Cox said. A Mauser .30-caliber, bolt-action rifle was found in a towel in a wooded area along the path investigators believe Robinson took after firing a shot from a distant roof and fleeing.

A breakthrough came when a Robinson family member communicated to a family friend that Robinson confessed or implied that he was responsible, information that was then shared with law enforcement.

Robinson’s father recognized him from the photos released by the FBI and told him to turn himself in. Robinson refused at first, but then changed his mind, according to a law enforcement official who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

His father reached out for help to their youth pastor, who also occasionally works with the U.S. Marshals and called the agency so he could turn himself in.

Meanwhile, investigators continued to dig into the background of Robinson, who was admitted to Utah State University, where Kirk was shot, on a prestigious academic scholarship, according to a video of him reading his acceptance letter posted to a family member’s social media account. However, he attended for only one semester in 2021, a university spokesperson said.

Robinson’s address was still listed as his parent’s home, and he is registered as an unaffiliated voter, according to Utah state records. He does not appear to have a prior criminal record. The family lives in a suburb of the city of St. George in southern Utah, about a 3.5-hour drive south of the Utah Valley campus.

Family members of Robinson did not immediately return messages seeking comment. It was not clear if he had a lawyer.

Kirk was killed by a single shot in what police said was a targeted attack and the governor called a political assassination.

Kirk co-founded the nonprofit political organization , based in Arizona. He was speaking at an event hosted by Turning Point at Utah Valley University at the time of Wednesday's shooting.

Grisly video shared online

The attack, carried out in broad daylight as Kirk spoke about social issues, was captured on .

The videos show Kirk, who was influential in rallying young Republican voters, when suddenly a shot rings out. Kirk reaches up with his right hand as blood gushes from the left side of his neck. Stunned spectators gasp and scream before people start running away.

The shooter, who investigators believe blended into the campus crowd, fired one shot from the rooftop, according to authorities. Video released Thursday showed the person walking through the grass and across the street before disappearing.

“I can tell you this was a targeted event,� said Robert Bohls, the top FBI agent in Salt Lake City.

Trump, who was joined by Democrats in condemning , said he would award Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the U.S. Vice President JD Vance and his wife, Usha, in Salt Lake City. 

“So much of the success we’ve had in this administration traces directly to Charlie’s ability to organize and convene,� Vance wrote. “He didn’t just help us win in 2024, he helped us staff the entire government.�

Kirk’s casket was flown aboard Air Force Two from Utah to Phoenix, where his nonprofit political youth organization is based. Trump told reporters he planned to attend Kirk’s funeral. Details have not been announced.